Surgical extraction

In a simple extraction, the dentist loosens a tooth and lifts it out with forceps. Some teeth need more. A surgical extraction is used for teeth that are broken at the gumline, badly decayed, or stuck under the gum or bone, such as an impacted tooth.

Your dentist might need to make incisions in your gums to access your tooth. Or they may need to divide the tooth into sections before removing it. The area is numbed first. Your dentist may place stitches, called sutures.

After the tooth is out, your dentist cleans and disinfects the socket and may place a bone graft. Aftercare steps matter, especially to protect the blood clot. Some complex cases may be referred elsewhere, and your dentist will tell you if so. Our office describes removals on its tooth extraction page.